DO YOU WANT THE DAVID AVENUE BALL PARK/OPEN SPACE, AKA SALAMANDER FIELD, BURIED UNDER 10,000 SQUARE FEET OF CEMENT?
This is the open space, with a ball park located adjacent to Community High, near the intersection of David Avenue and Buena Vista. The back of the field borders Congress Road in Pebble Beach.
IF NOT, READ ON, AND GET INVOLVED!
On February 23, 2023, the Pacific Grove Recreation Board held a public meeting with the recommendation that the David Avenue Ball Park adjacent to Community High be chosen as the site for a proposed 10,0000 square-foot skatepark, plus access, bathroom facilities and parking to provide for the increased use. This was news to many of the people who live in this area, who only heard that open space was in contention for the park in the February 23 Herald newspaper.
A survey was made available online in December with five locations, with one of them being the ball park behind the Charter School, that borders Congress Ave in PG, and the entry to Country Club Gate. The Community High ball park, “Salamander Field” was not included in the survey. It was well after this survey was completed that the staff added this site for recommendation as the number one pick for the skatepark location. This decision was made by the skatepark subcommittee, then adopted by the Recreation Board staff.
Salamander Field was mischaracterized as an “abandoned ball park,” when in fact it is used by the girls’ softball Pony League, which has about 100 girls involved in the program. They meet there five days a week for practice. It is the only open space in the Del Monte Park area. Many neighbors go there to play with their dogs, enjoy birthday parties and picnics. The field is also used for teaching locations by the Charter School, who pays a substantial rent to the PGUSD to occupy the grounds.
The neighbors who are near this project were not notified of this selection. There are no city records that have been made available online or at the February 23 hearing that reveal how or why this site was added as a possible site, without any public input during the survey process.
No data exists that is readily available as to how many of our local children are interested in a skateboard park, and there has been no compelling argument as to why the skaters cannot access the existing 13,000 square foot facility at El Estero Park in Monterey.
A final decision has not been reached. Please voice your concerns to the PG City Council, about this precious open space, the ball park and natural surrounds being paved over. It is the only such space here in Del Monte Park for the residents that live here. Other issues include the lack of sidewalks for children skateboarding down David Avenue to visit the park, noise pollution from the sound of skateboards against concrete, increased vehicular traffic, and interruption of the 911 corridor for emergency vehicles traveling to care for rest home residents with medical emergencies on the 1200 block of David Avenue, just beyond Salamander Field.
How you can help
Write to the Pacific Grove City Council and let them know you oppose building a skate park You can write letters to the editors to various boards and help with distribution of flyers and support a petition drive to stop the destruction of our open space.
- City Council email address: [email protected]
- Mayor Bill Peake: [email protected]
- Luke Coletti: [email protected]
- Debby Beck: [email protected]
- Lori McDonnell: [email protected]
- Chaps Poduri: [email protected]
- Joe Amelio: [email protected]
- Nick Smith: [email protected]
- City Council Mail:
Office of the Mayor and City Council
City Hall 300 Forest Ave.
Pacific Grove, CA 93950
Recreation Board members can be reached: [email protected]. For more information and/or to help contact: [email protected]. Please send your email address and/or cell phone number if you would like to help with updates about this project.